How To Install Radiant Floor Heating In Concrete

The design and layout of concrete floor radiant heat is often complex and typically should be done by a certified radiant heating professional rather than the concrete contractor.

How to install radiant floor heating in concrete.

There s two basic types of concrete floor heating hydronic and electric. While hot water and air based radiant. This article explains how to avoid some fatal mistakes when installing radiant heat in a concrete floor slab by describing an incompetent radiant heat floor installation along with an explanation of why things went wrong and how to avoid these errors. A lot of planning and teamwork early in the process will help ensure a successful installation says the radiant panel association in its 2008 radiant flooring guide.

Basic materials for radiant floor heat installation in a slab remember since you will only have 1 chance to pour the concrete slab you will only have 1 chance to put the pex tubing in it. Its success with carpeted floors depends on the length of the weave thick carpets or those with thick pads won t work well as heat generated by the system will stay trapped in the floor. Due to it s density and low conductivity concrete retains heat very well. The most cost effective system for medium to larger homes is hydronic since the amount of power it would take to heat a whole home with electric would be substantial.

How does radiant heat work. Radiant heating system design or installation mistakes that must be avoided. Installing underfloor electric radiant heat. There are two basic types.

So even if there are no existing plans for the radiant floor heating or a snow melting system installing pex tubing in it may turn out to be a good decision. The workers in the photograph at page top where our concrete slab.